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Especially in the case of chronic inflammatory and auto-inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, it becomes clear that the psyche can suffer from a physical illness. Conversely, however, it can also have a direct influence on the course of the disease, the experience of the disease and well-being.
Current studies such as those by Nordkamp (2025), Henkemans (2025), Yildirim (2025) or Vestergaard (2025) suggest that those who feel lonely or suffer from anxiety and depression, may have a lower health-related quality of life and higher disease activity.
A holistic therapeutic approach considers:
- Physical health: pain, mobility, certain symptoms such as nausea or vomiting
- Mental health: dealing with the disease, self-awareness, resilience
- Social Health: Belonging, Support, Relationship Shaping
These areas influence each other. Those who are socially isolated, for example, due to pain or certain symptoms, can suffer psychologically – which in turn can exacerbate physical symptoms or make them more difficult to deal with. A cycle that must be broken.
For people with chronic illnesses, psychosocial support is essential. Or as one person living with rheumatoid arthritis puts it: "If I take good care of myself and get support when I need it, I can do anything – even the bad days."
What research shows: Invisible factors with a visible effect
New findings suggest:
- Social activity, physical exercise and a positive mental attitude can have a positive effect on well-being.
- Conversely, psychological stress such as anxiety, loneliness or depression can intensify inflammatory processes and delay the reduction of symptoms of illness (cf. Henkemanns 2025, Yildirim 2024).
A purely pharmacological approach is therefore not always sufficient – a comprehensive view of the affected person, including mental health, should be at the heart of modern therapy plans. And we only get this in direct exchange with those who live with an illness. A participant summarizes this impressively in a recent study (Nordkamp 2025): "Well, they should see me as a whole and not just see me as a patient with arthritis and only relate to my blood tests and examine my joints. But ask me 'well, how are you feeling?'".
What do those living with an illness need? How can this be integrated in research and development of new treatments? How in daily care? Mental health is not a "nice-to-have". It is the key to improving health-related quality of life.
At admedicum, we are experts in patient engagement, the involvement of those affected in the development of medicines and healthcare services. The primary objective is to achieve the best possible patient-relevant outcomes by incorporating and valuing the expertise, experience, insights and networks of people living with conditions in the processes of research and development and to improve access to healthcare.
We collaborate with the our partner DARUM to assess current evidence-based medical knowledge and share it with the target audience. This allows us to develop new insights with those affected to improve health care.
References:
Tiles-Sar N, Neuser J, de Sordi D, Baltes A, Preiss JC, Moser G, Timmer A. Psychological interventions for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2025, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD006913. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006913.pub3.
